C++ and Xlib - center window

Question

I have started to study GUI applications programming based on XLib directly and I am trying to create a centered window on the screen. I don't know the usual technique used to achieve this. My code (which doesn't work) is this (I use CodeBlocks)

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>
#include <X11/Xos.h>
#include <X11/Xatom.h>
#include <X11/keysym.h>
#include <GL/glew.h>
#include <GL/freeglut.h>

int screen;
Display *display;
XSetWindowAttributes window_attributes;
Window mainwindow;
XEvent events;

int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    display = XOpenDisplay(NULL);screen = DefaultScreen(display);
    window_attributes.background_pixel = XWhitePixel(display, screen);
    window_attributes.border_pixel = XBlackPixel(display, screen);
    window_attributes.win_gravity = SouthWestGravity;

    mainwindow = XCreateWindow(display,
                             RootWindow(display, screen),
                             1, 1,
                             600, 400,
                             0,
                             CopyFromParent,
                             InputOutput,
                             CopyFromParent,
                             CWBackPixel|CWBorderPixel,
                             &window_attributes
                            );
    XMapWindow(display, mainwindow);
    XFlush(display);
    XSelectInput(display, mainwindow, ExposureMask|KeyPressMask|ButtonPressMask);
    while (1)  {
        XNextEvent(display, &events);
        switch  (events.type) {
            case Expose:
                // Lots of code that doesn't matter for my problem
            break;
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

So, I thought that window_attributes.win_gravity would do the trick but it seems like I'm doing something wrong or it must be an OS related issue.
Thanks for your help!

UPDATE
I have changed X (left position) by 100 and y (top position) by 100 but the window's position doesn't change. So, my problem is that the window's position can't be changed, no matter what it is.

I don't know if it's the best way of achieving it, but can't you figure out the correct placement of the window using XWidthOfScreen/XHeightOfScreen? — user786653
Something is wrong, the window position doesn't change whatever the top and left values would be. — ali
Try XMoveWindow to be explicit about the placement of the window. IIRC the position given to XCreateWindow is only a hint. — user786653
@ali: note that by doing that you are overriding the window manager decision, and maybe the user configuration for the window manager. — ninjalj

n. 1.8e9-where's-my-share m. n. 1.8e9-where's-my-share m. · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-17T19:38:32

Gravity applies to the window's own content and children, not to its position in the parent window.
Window managers can and do override top-level window position requests. Use XMoveWindow after the XMapWindow call.

C++ and Xlib - center window

2 Answers